The "real" America, the subtractive process which politicians are constantly battling, is a process which has been in the works since before this country was a country. There were drafts of the Declaration of Independence, choosing which word was more appropriate. Bigger than word choice, in building a nation, beliefs are molded and formed and philosophy is codified.

What is left? What's left are shadow states of states. There are 43 versions of the American flag. Each version represents a different nation. A state of a state. They're also political states, states of destruction, oppression. States of poverty, class warfare, indigenous land rights, and religious freedom. These are shadow states of states. And we have to continue to try to shine light on them.